U.S. Deploys Troops In Cameroon To Help Fight Against Islamist Militants Boko Haram, President Barrack Obama Announces

by Diana Tomale / Oct 17, 2015 02:37 AM EDT

(Photo by: The U.S. Army / Flickr) U.S. to deploy 300 military personnel in Cameroon to help fight against Boko Haram.

President Barrack Obama on Wednesday announced that around 300 military personnel will be deployed in Cameroon to assist for the Boko Haram fight. The president added that the additional troops will "conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations in the country," as noted by Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

"The total number of US military personnel to be deployed to Cameroon is anticipated to be up to approximately 300," Obama said in a letter sent to Congress.

"These forces are equipped with weapons for the purpose of providing their own force protection and security, and they will remain in Cameroon until their support is no longer needed," he added.

BBC News reported on the same day that Cameroon has been targeted by the Boko Haram. Further reports have revealed that the Islamist militant group "has shown itself resilient in the face of military operations by the combined armies of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria."

Boko Haram reportedly attacked a market in Cameroon last month that killed about 30 people and left 145 others wounded. In addition, the militant group has allegedly kidnapped or killed thousands of people in Nigeria, CNN noted on Wednesday.

Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza revealed that US troops will be deployed in the African country at the invitation of Cameroon government.

"The combined activities conducted at this location are designed to better enhance the capability and capacity of our partners in the Cameroon defense forces to promote stability and security within Cameroon and the surrounding region," she said.

Baldanza added that the ISR flights will help the African country and its partner governments to secure their borders from attacks initiated by Boko Haram and other extremist groups. In addition, The Pentagon spokeswoman said that most of the surveillance flights flown by the US would be performed by "unarmed remotely piloted aircraft."